Automatic grooving, tenoning, and beveling machine for barrel-staves or the like.



Patented Aug. 8, I899.

E. P. BUTTGHER. AUTOMATIC GBOOVING, TENONING, AND BEVELING MACHINE FDR BARREL STAVES OR THE LIKE.

(Application filed Mn. 13, 1399.

5 Sheets-Sheet I,

(No Model.)

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No. 630,824. Patented Aug. 8, I899. E. P. BOTTCHER. AUTOMATIC GROUVING, TENONING, AND BEVELING MACHINE FOR BARREL STAVES OR THE LIKE.

(Application filed Mar. 13, 1899.) (No Model.) 5 Shaets-Sheet 2.

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. N BY Patented Aug. 8, I899.

E. BfiTTCHER. 4 AUTOMATIC GROOVING, TENDNING, AND BEVELING MACHINE FDR BARREL STAVES OR THE LIKE.

(Application filed Mar. 13, 1899.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 3,

(No Model.)

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No. 630,824. Patented Aug. 8,1899;

E. P. BHTTCHER AUTDHATIC GBOOVING, TENONING, AND BEVELING MACHINE FUH'BARREL STAVES on THE LIKE.

(Applicatiun filed 1m. 13, L899.)

5 ShaetsSheat 4.

(No Model.)

INVENTOR Patented Aug. 8, I899.

5. P. BfiTTCHER. AUTOMATIC GROOVING, TENONING, AND BEVELING MACHINE FOR BARREL STAVES DR THE LIKE.

(Application filed Mar. 13, 1899 5 Sheets-Sheet 5,

[No Model.)

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UNITED STATES ERNST PAUL BorTonER,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF ALTONA, GERMANY.

AUTOMATIC GROOVING, TENONING, AND BEVELING MACHINE FOR BARREL-STAVES OR THE LIKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 630,824, dated August 8, 1899.

Application filed March 13, 1 8 9 9 To 0Z6 whom, it ntay concern.-

Be it known that I, ERNST PAUL BoTTcHER, a subject of the King of Prussia, Emperor of Germany, residing at Altona, in theKingdom of Prussia and German Empire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Grooving, Tenoning, and Beveling Machines for Barrel-staves or the Like, (for which I have applied for patents in England, dated February 16, 1899, No. 3,441; in Sweden, dated February 14, 1899, No. 288; in Norway, dated February 18, 1899, No. 10,800; in Denmark, dated February 14, 1899, No. 182; in Austria, dated February 10, 1899; in Hungary, dated February 14, 1899, No. 2,170, and in Germany, dated January 28, 1898,) of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is the construction of a machine which will cut entirely unsorted or even so called dulledged staves and boards for barrel-staves not only with parallel, but also with curved, longitudinal edges and which will automatically adjust itself in such manner that, according to the narrowest width of the wood stave, only the portions absolutely necessary to be removed will be cut away.

By means of this machine (which only requires one man in attendance for the purpose of feeding in the boards) grooves and tongues are simultaneously cut in the boards or staves, as the case may be.

My invention comprises a contrivance whereby boards of irregular shape are fed centrally through the machine, saws whereby the boards are evenly cut, which are influenced by the said contrivance, atransporting arrangement whereby the staves are carried from one part of the machine to another part, a set of jointed suspension-levers provided with guide checks or jaws, a second set of jointed suspension-leve rs, transmission mechanism whereby the first-named set of jointed suspension-levers are caused to influence the second set of jointed suspension-levers, a perpendicular guide, a slide working in the perpendicular guide and in connection with the second set of levers, a cam, cutterheads which may have groove and tongue cutters, and lever connections whereby the slide is moved in such a manner from the cam that the space which is left between the cutters Serial No. 708,905. (No model.)

and which is occupied by the staves to be operated upon is varied, so that as a consequence the shape of the joint formed by the cutters is eifected, which shape is caused to vary in proportion to the greatest breadth of the staves.

In order that my said invention may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended live explanatory sheetsof drawings, which show, by way of example, a convenient method of carrying out the invention.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a cross-section of the machine, taken on the line 1 4, Figs. 2 and 3, looking in the direction of the arrow pointing toward the rear end of the machine at a point just in advance of the grooving and tenoning cutters. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine with part in section. Fig. 4 is a detail cross-section through the feeding mechanism, taken on the line 1 4, Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow pointing toward the front end of the machine. Fig. 5 is a detail cross-section through the saws which cut the rough side edges of the staves, taken on the line 5 5, Figs. 2 and 3,10okingin the direction of the arrow. Fig. 6 is a detail cross-section through the table of the machine, taken on the line 6 6, Figs. 2 and 3, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 7 is a detail plan view showing a modification of the contrivance for guiding the staves as they pass through the machine. Fig. 8 is a detail cross-section therethrough, taken on the line 8 8, Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 9 is a detail plan view of the contrivance which influences the cutter-levers, parts being shown in section Fig. 10 is a detail cross-section in ad- Vance of the grooving and tonguing cutters, showing a modification. Fig. 11 is a diagram of the lever systems carrying the cutters.

The machine, in accordance with the functions which it has to perform, possesses the following principal parts: The arrangement for transporting the staves, which arrangement is carried Within the framework; the arrangement for guiding the staves centrally when being put intothe machine; the saws, which can be acted upon by the immediatelyaforesaid arrangement for the purpose of cutting away the irregular edges of the boards;

the guiding arrangement (which influences the cutter-spindles) for guiding the boards whose edges have already been smoothly cut as they move forward; the cutting arrangement for shaping and finishing the boards.

The transporting arrangement consists of an endless chain having stop-pieces M on it at certain distances apart and which is operated by means of the spur-wheel gearing Z Z Fig. 3. At the front end of the machine are two longitudinal shafts W W which are situated below the endless chain and one at each side of the center line of the machine. Two upright levers H H are fitted upon the shaft.W, while a single upright lever H is fitted upon the shaft W As will be seen, the lever H is at a point on the shaft W midway between the other levers. These levers are so arranged that they can be adjusted in the longitudinal direction of the shafts so as to suit varying lengths of boards, staves, or the like laid upon the machine, and they are also capable of moving outward or to one side to exactly the same distance from the center line of the machine. This equal defiection on both sides of the levers is due to the fact that the shafts W W are geared together by means of toothed segments or such like X X Fig. 6, so that they are bound to work together, while springs W cause the levers to have a tendency to approach one another. The heads of these levers H H H are provided with tappets K K K which are turnable and are retained in their proper positionsby means of spiral springs f f f These tappets, whose sides point toward the center of the machine, project upward in the form of horns k k 10 and the distance the tips of these horns are apart from one another when the levers H H H are in their farthest-in position correspond to the greatest breadth that can be given to the pieces of wood laid upon the machine.

The insertion in the machine of flat pieces of wood which are only slightly irregular or rough at the sides is effected by laying them upon the-horns (see dotted lines, Fig. 6) and pressing them down onto the table. Owing to the fact that the strip of wood D lies with its one side bearing against two points and its other side bearing against only one point it follows that it is automatically adjusted to and held at the center line of the machine. If the transporting-chain is now put into operation, the wood strip which has been laid upon the table is caught by one of the stoppieces M and carried forward under the presthe passage of the projection return to their normal positions. It the board is very irregu lar at the edges, instead of usingthe tappet K a gage or alidade L, Figs. 7 and 8, may be fitted by means of a jointing-piece upon the lever H The end of this gage is in line with the saw S The stave moves under the gage, which indicates and prescribes the irregular parts which have to be removed. The gage L permits of the boards being laid on quite straight, as can be seen from Fig. 7, but a little more trouble is occasioned when inserting the boards. 1

The levers N N which possess hook-shaped heads, are rigidly connected (see Figs. 3 and 5) with the shafts W W A movable lever system G G2 is situated in rear of the levers N N on the bed of the machine and is carried by an adjustable fulcrum-block G in the upright 9 This system is balanced by counterweights g g (see Fig. 5) and has bearings in the bearingblocks s s, in which the spindles of the saws S S can revolve. These spindles are revolved by means of belt-pulleys and driving-bands, which latter are not shown upon the drawings.

The saws work with their cutting-teeth in the line of the heads (when in their normal position) of the tappets K K K Owing to the fact that the saws are suspended from the fulcrum-block G'they are inclined at an angle, and thereby give the proper bevel to the edges of the staves, which bevel is necessary when the staves are to be used for making cylindrical barrels or casks. The hook-shaped heads of the levers N N catch in the notches A A of the lovers carrying the bearingvaried according to the motions of the horns k k 10 (through the medium of the shafts W W and the levers N N and the breadth of the boards.

By the action of the endless chain the board is carried forward and under pressure of the pressure-shoes P P P P to the cutting apparatus by means of which the boards are shaped and the grooves and tenons are made. This apparatus consists of freely-swinging jointed levers 1 2 3 4, suspended from a fixed fulcrum b, carried by the frame. The upper levers 1 2 constitute guiding rods or legs upon which the sloping side cheeks or guide-jaws B B are arranged. The levers 3 and 4, which are jointed to' these legs, are brought to the center of the machine and connected to a sliding block B, which works in a guide F. (See Figs. 4 and Q.) The block B is connected by means of'a link 5 to the lever 6, which swings freely. upon the shaft V. The lever 6 carriesa projecting holder, (see Fig. 9,) which catches below a similar holder on a lever '7, which latter is provided with a binding-screw O, whereby the two parts of the holder are coupled together.

The lever 7 isrigidly connected with a friction-clutch cand.

and 12 by means of a sliding block 13, which works in the guides F.

On the levers 11 and 12 are situated the cutter-spindles 1 1 which are provided with pulleys whereby they can be driven by bands, so as to operate the cutters 0 0 The levers 11 and 12 are connected with a slide A, which works in a vertical guide in the machineframe by means of a movable fulcrum (L. The slide A, carrying the fulcrum-pin a, can be adjusted vertically by means of the handwheel h and screwed spindle S, in order to adapt the cutters for cutting staves for different-sized casks or barrels. The fulcrum CL should not be raised higher than the height of the fixed fulcrum b of the levers 1 2 3 4:.

The slide A and the levers 9, 10, 11, and 12 are moved automatically up and down by means of a cranked lever 15, which is on the one hand connected to a collar h on the spindle S, Fig. 2, and on the other hand to rods 16 17, receiving motion from a cam E.

The friction-cone c of the clutch c, Fig. 9, is connected at one side by means of a lever 13 and link 14 (see Figs. 1, 2, and 9) with the slide A.

By means of the cranked lever 18, Fig. 2, and a cam E the friction-cone 0 can once in each revolution of the cam be clutched to the box 0, which latter can again, when the cam reaches the proper position, be automatically released by the action of a spring 9 or a counterweight.

The cutter-spindles 1 1 which carry the cutters 0 0 by means of which the staves D are properly cut, are operated by bands, as aforedescribed, from a driving-gear, which is not shown on the drawings. These spindles I I rest upon rollers R R Fig. 10, running in the channelguides Q Q while the action of the levers 11 and 12, carried through and sliding in the bearings J J gives the direction corresponding to the center angle for the staves when fitted together in the finished barrel. The guides Q Q allow the spindles of the cutters O O to move laterally, but not in an upward direction, relatively with the flat side of the staves. According as to whether the staves D are fiat, Figs. 1, 6, and 11, or

curved, Fig. 10, the guides Q Q must be made either straight (but with a corresponding inclination to the horizontal) or curved. The bearings J J at their upper ends work on curved guide-arms T T. Shortly before reaching the cutters O O the stave D is pressed down on both sides by means of the rod U, mounted in the bearing-blocks J J and a pressure apparatus P Fig. 10, in order that a clean cut may be made and splintering of the wood prevented. Owing to the weight of the spindles of the cutters, of the bearings, and the rods, the cutters will tend to move as close together as possible, and as soon as the clutch is disengaged they will approach each other as far as the construction will permit. This takes place whenever the end of a stave has passed through the cutters and up till the passage of the front end of a fresh stave through the guide-jaws B B The board D, carried forward by the chain, and the irregular edges of which have been previously cut off, passes through the guide jaws B B and forces them apart, in accordance with its breadth, and thereby moves the jointed levers 1 2 3 4, the link 5, and the lever 6, which latter grasps, by means of its holder, the lever 7, with the resultthat through the action of the link 8 the second set of jointed levers 9, 10, 11, and 12, which is connected to the bearings J J of the spindles I 1 of the cutters, is also moved simultaneously iherewith and the cutters forced apart to an extent corresponding to the movement of the jaws B B The lengths of the levers of each set of jointed levers are exactly the same, but the fulcrums a I), however, are out of alinement during the passage of the boards, as the slide carrying the fulcrum a is raised and lowered by the means hereinbefore described to allow for the diiference between the head and center radii of the barrel to be made.

The angle formed by the levers 1 2, and which alters according to the breadths of the staves, is equal to the angle formed by the levers 11 12. (See diagram Fig. 11.)

The transition from the beginning of a stave to the center and then again to the end is effected by the perpendicular movement, as a system, of the jointed levers 9 10 11 12 after they have been once properly adjusted by means of the levers and rods 15 16 17, actuated by the cam E, which is properly shaped for the purpose.

In order to combine the movement of the slide A with that of the jointed levers 9 10 11 12, the slide is connected, by means of the link 14, with the shaft V, the rod 8, and the block B of the jointed levers, so that when the clutch is engaged the motion of the slide will correspond with that of the fulcrumblock B of the levers 9 10.

In lieu of the rods and levers 5 8 14, movably connected with the levers 6, 7, and 13, toothed rods and segments may be used, as shown at Fig. 10.

Suitable power being connected up with the machine, a rough-edge board D is placed between the horns 7c 7& k of the tappets K K K and pressed down so as to seat it on the endless chain. The seating of the board between the tappets spreads the levers H, H and H apart and rocks the shafts W W which in turn spread the levers N N apart and adjusts the suspended circular saws S S at proper distance asunder to trim the edges of the advancing board. The board is engaged by a stop-piece and fed under the front pressure-shoes P P between the saws, from which it emerges in trimmed condition and is fed beneath the intermediate pressureshoes P P and between the suspended guidejaws B B which are spread apart to the width of the trimmed board. The guide-jaws being mounted on the front set of suspensionlevers will when the board is fed between them spread these levers, which action will elevate the front fulcrum-block B in the front guide F, the front rod 5, levers 6 and 7, rear rod 8, rear fulcru m-block B in the rear guide F, and spread the rear set of suspension-levers with the bearings J J of the cutter-spindles I l correspondingly and will place the cutters O O at the required distance apart to start the shaping of the board to produce the stave. The cam E now comes into play and operates the lower bell-crank lever 18 and brings the cone 0 into frictional contact with the clutch to lock together the slide and rear fulcrum-blocks, with their connections. The cam E next comes into play, bearing against the rods 17 and 16 and rocking the bell-crank lever 15, so that the latter gradually elevates and lowers the slide A, which carries the rear fulcrum a, so as to gradually move and adjust the bearing-blocks J J out- Ward and inward to cause the cutters to finish the board and impart the desired shape to the stave. The clutch is then released and the parts assume their normal position.

Having thus described my invention, the following is What I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A trimming and tonguing and grooving machine comprising a centering contrivance whereby boards of irregular shape are centered for their passage through the machine, trimming-saws, whereby the edges of the boards are evenly cut, and which are influenced by the said contrivance, a transporting device, whereby the boards are carried from one part of the machine to another part, a set of jointed suspension-levers provided with guidingcheeks or jaws, asecond set of jointed suspension-levers, transmission mechanism whereby the first-named set of jointed suspension-levers are caused to influence the second set of jointed suspension-1e vers, a perpendicular guide, a slide working in the perpendicular guide, and to which the second set of jointed suspension-levers are connected, a cam, cutter-heads, supported by the second set of jointed suspension-levers, and lever connections whereby the slide is moved in such a manner from the cam that the space which is left between the cutter-heads and which is occupied by the board to be operated upon is varied; substantially as described.

2. A trimming and tonguing and grooving A trimming and tonguing and grooving machine, comprising a front fulcrum, the front upper levers suspended from the fulcrum, the guide-jaws secured to the front upper levers, the front lower levers jointedto the front upper levers, the front sliding block to which the front lower levers are connected, the front guide in which the front sliding block works, the clutch-shaft, the front le ver having a holder and mounted on the clutch-shaft, a front link connecting thefront sliding block with the front lever, the rear lever mounted on the clutch-shaft and having a holder connected with the holder of the front lever, the friction-clutch connected with the rear lever, the rear guide, the rear sliding block working in the rear guide, the rear link connecting the rear lever \vit-h'the rear sliding block, the rear lower levers connected to the rear sliding block, the Vertical upper guide, the slide working in the vertical 7 guide, the rear fulcrum mounted in the slide,

the rear upper levers suspended from the rear fulcrum, and jointed to the rear lower levers, spindle-bearings mounted on the rear upper levers, guides for the spindle-bearings, the cutter-heads having spindles mounted in the spindle-bearings, means for adjusting the slide, the upper cranked lever connected with the means for adjusting the slide, the rods connecting with the cranked lever, a cam whereby the rods are controlled, the lever and link where by the clutch is connected with the slide, the lower cranked lever, and the canr controlling the lower cranked lever; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

ERNST PAUL BOTTCI-IER. Witnesses:

AUGUST LiiHRs, E. H. MUMMENHOFF. 

